open today: 9am-5pm
open today : 9am-5pm
From June 27 to 29, 2025, we took part in the 17th Meeting of Slovak Mining Towns and Municipalities, held in Prešov. The Wieliczka Salt Mine Museum had the honor of representing Poland at the invitation of Mr. Marek Duchoň, Director of the Solivar Museum in Prešov – a branch of the Slovak Technical Museum in Košice.
This recurring event is organized by the Association of Slovak Mining Guilds under the leadership of its president, Mr. Erik Sombathy. The meeting brings together representatives of mining towns, municipalities, guilds, and associations from across Slovakia, as well as guests from abroad – including the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria. Its main purpose is to foster connections among communities dedicated to mining heritage, encourage the exchange of experiences, and build lasting relationships between mining centers.
For the Wieliczka Salt Mine Museum, this was the first time participating in the event, although we have long-standing cooperation with Slovak mining associations, particularly through the organization of the Salt Festival – an initiative held in both Poland and Slovakia.
During our stay, we visited the Solivar Museum in Prešov, where we learned about the history of the local salt mine and explored a unique complex of 17th-century industrial buildings once used for extracting and boiling salt from brine. We also had the opportunity to visit the oldest and once largest opal mine in the world, located in the Slanské Mountains near the town of Dubník. Until the 19th century, it was the only known source of precious opal; today, it operates as a museum.
The meeting program included regional presentations and a ceremonial gathering featuring the traditional ritual known as the “leather jump.” This symbolic rite marks the initiation of novices into the mining community by jumping over a leather apron – formerly a protective element of a miner’s attire. A key moment in the ceremony is the dubbing of the novice with a foreman's staff by a senior miner, accompanied by toasts and traditional mining songs.
The event in Slovakia also featured thematic sessions focused on mining heritage, international cooperation, and the sharing of best practices. The highlight of the meeting was a ceremonial parade through the streets of Prešov, with delegations dressed in historical mining uniforms carrying banners. The procession was accompanied by medal presentations, performances by mining brass bands, and religious observances.
The gathering in Prešov was not only ceremonial and integrative in nature but also held great cultural and promotional value. It served as a platform to showcase the rich mining heritage of Slovakia, support international exchange, and strengthen cultural and economic cooperation between mining institutions and communities.
We hope that the participation of the Wieliczka Salt Mine Museum in this event marks the beginning of a new annual tradition, fostering long-term relationships and new forms of international collaboration.
For the Wieliczka Salt Mine Museum, this was the first time participating in the event, although we have long-standing cooperation with Slovak mining associations, particularly through the organization of the Salt Festival – an initiative held in both Poland and Slovakia.
During our stay, we visited the Solivar Museum in Prešov, where we learned about the history of the local salt mine and explored a unique complex of 17th-century industrial buildings once used for extracting and boiling salt from brine. We also had the opportunity to visit the oldest and once largest opal mine in the world, located in the Slanské Mountains near the town of Dubník. Until the 19th century, it was the only known source of precious opal; today, it operates as a museum.
The meeting program included regional presentations and a ceremonial gathering featuring the traditional ritual known as the “leather jump.” This symbolic rite marks the initiation of novices into the mining community by jumping over a leather apron – formerly a protective element of a miner’s attire. A key moment in the ceremony is the dubbing of the novice with a foreman's staff by a senior miner, accompanied by toasts and traditional mining songs.
The event in Slovakia also featured thematic sessions focused on mining heritage, international cooperation, and the sharing of best practices. The highlight of the meeting was a ceremonial parade through the streets of Prešov, with delegations dressed in historical mining uniforms carrying banners. The procession was accompanied by medal presentations, performances by mining brass bands, and religious observances.
The gathering in Prešov was not only ceremonial and integrative in nature but also held great cultural and promotional value. It served as a platform to showcase the rich mining heritage of Slovakia, support international exchange, and strengthen cultural and economic cooperation between mining institutions and communities.
We hope that the participation of the Wieliczka Salt Mine Museum in this event marks the beginning of a new annual tradition, fostering long-term relationships and new forms of international collaboration.
